Life & fun · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to Rico

Turn your used smartphone into a smarthome device.

Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. Rico launched in 2014; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1. 1
   Alfred▲127

   Turn your unused smartphones into home surveillance cameras.

   2015 · alfred.camera · its alternatives →

2. 2
   UpLamp▲121

   Turning your smartphone into a smart lamp

   2016 · kickstarter.com · its alternatives →

3. 3
   Point▲127

   Smart house sitter (pre-launch)

   2014 · minut.com · its alternatives →

4. 4
   1Cables▲79

   Turn your smartphone into a computer.

   2016 · kickstarter.com · its alternatives →

5. 5
   HEED▲101

   Converts your smartphone into a dash cam

   2017 · kickstarter.com · its alternatives →

6. 6
   Samsung Ballie▲149

   A cute, personal robot from Samsung

   2024 · its alternatives →

7. 7
   Cocoon▲84

   The smart little device that protects your whole home

   2014 · indiegogo.com · its alternatives →

8. 8
   Welle▲184

   Turn any surface into a smart interface

   2017 · kickstarter.com · its alternatives →

9. 9
   Exploride▲133

   Turn Your Car into a Smart Car.

   2015 · exploride.com · its alternatives →

10. 10
    Turn Touch▲108

    Smart buttons for your smart home

    2017 · turntouch.com · its alternatives →

11. 11
    Relay▲76

    Instant access to smart home products

    2014 · relay.winkapp.com · its alternatives →

12. 12
    Doorbot▲73

    The Wi-Fi enabled doorbell for smartphones

    2014 · its alternatives →

13. 13
    Guardingo▲2

    Turn your smartphone into the home security system.

    2014 · its alternatives →

14. 14
    Apple HomeView▲209

    A new way to stay connected, and manage the home

    8d ago · apple.com · its alternatives →

15. 15
    Alexa, Hire Me Some Smart Home Folks▲52

    Amazon has plans for smart home world domination

    2016 · soundcloud.com · its alternatives →

16. 16
    Ricoh Theta▲73

    Take spherical pictures, sent to your smartphone.

    2014 · ricoh360.com · its alternatives →

17. 17
    Picturelife 3.0▲191

    The smart home for photos

    2014 · its alternatives →

18. 18
    Dormi▲70

    Turn any Android device into a baby monitor.

    2014 · dormi.sleekbit.com · its alternatives →

19. 19
    1 Sheeld▲61

    Turn your smartphone into a a sensor box for prototyping.

    2014 · its alternatives →

20. 20
    Wonder for Google Home▲149

    Remember the things you easily forget

    2017 · wonder-bot.com · its alternatives →

21. 21EY
    Everything you need to build your own Turn Touch smart home remote▲103

    2017 · medium.com · its alternatives →

22. 22
    Snapa▲67

    Smartphone messenging with a twist.

    2014 · apps.apple.com · its alternatives →

23. 23
    Misfit Bolt▲114

    A wirelessly connected smart bulb

    2015 · its alternatives →

24. 24
    Wink Relay▲99

    A simpler way to a smarter home

    2016 · wink.com · its alternatives →

Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →